The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU has arrested 24 Congolese and impounded their fishing gear on Lake Edward in Kasese district. The unit accuses the Congolese of crossing to Uganda’s side where they have been engaging in illegal fishing.
Major Stephen Alituha, the FPU Commandant on Lake Edward said that however much the FPU has tried to sensitize Ugandan fishermen on the effects of illegal fishing, the Congolese fishermen remain a big challenge.
He says that illegal fishing has considerably gone down since FPU intensified its awareness campaign and operations, but the Congolese continue to threaten this stability.
He said a fortnight ago, FPU also arrested a group of other Congolese on the same lake but they were cautioned and released.
Kiiza Isimbwa, the coordinator of UPDF and fishermen on Lake Edward appreciated the intervention of the forces, saying that since the enforcement was put in place, there have been improvements in the fishing methods.
He however says that there is a need for Ugandan fishermen to timely alert authorities whenever they spot any person engaging in illegal fishing.
Robert Kasaija, the chairperson of Katwe landing site noted that Ugandan fishermen are unhappy when they witness Congolese fishermen being released whenever caught on Ugandan waters while Ugandans are severely punished for the same.
He pleads for a bilateral solution between the two countries to definitively resolve the problem
Sufulire Mumbere, one of the suspects said they crossed into Uganda looking for mature fish because of the dwindling fish stock on their side. Deo Sentiba, the FPU spokesperson says they will engage the authorities on the DRC side regarding the arrest of the fishermen.
He says that the suspects were found with illegal fishing nets and boats. Congolese fishermen and leaders have been at loggerheads with Uganda security authorities over illegal fishing methods on border lakes.
In July this year, Noe Mbusa Kavasya, a fisherman from KyavinyongeI Individual Fishermen’s Association on Lake Edward accused Uganda security authorities of crossing to DR. Congo and arresting 12 fishermen at Kyiavinyonge landing site in Beni territory, North Kivu Province, a claim Ugandan security strongly rubbished.
In the same month, Noe Mbusa Kavasya, a fisherman from the same Association in Beni territory accused the Ugandan marines of arresting 12 Congolese fishermen but UPDF strongly denied the claims. In 2018, the DR Congo government accused Uganda of shooting dead 12 Congolese fishermen, something Uganda’s army also denied.
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